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The Call Of God
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The Call Of God
I had the privilege of spending several days at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth Texas. My daughter Kelley was there for orientation and I was there for moral support.
I loved listening to these young people talk. Most of them have recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree and are in their early twenties. Some are returning to school after working for a while and are older. All have eyes that are bright with love for their God.
They were getting to know each other. I was struck by the innocence. They have chosen the way of God and their faces do not have the hardness or the cynicism that I see in so many young people.
Even though all were at least in their twenties, like Kelley, many of them had their parents hovering close. Rather than rebelling or being embarrassed, they seemed to bask in their parents' love and encouragement. They discussed class and possible churches with their parents and seemed to want the wisdom of their elders.
Like other young people, they did show off as they met each other. I noticed a difference however. The subject of their youthful posturing was quite different that what I observe on other campuses. Nowhere did you hear anyone bragging about how drunk they got the night before or about their romantic conquests. Most of them didn’t even brag about clothes or what television show they watched.
Instead, they discussed their knowledge of the Bible. They told each about how they heard the voice of God calling them into the ministry. They talked about their previous experience working in churches.
Even their discussion about the opposite sex was mingled with their obedience to God. Some of the young ladies joked about how attractive the men on campus were. They said that while they could not touch, nowhere did it say that they could not enjoy the beauty that God created.
Many of these young people have been through a ceremony called “True Love Waits.” True Love Waits is similar to a wedding ceremony. It is performed with a single young person and their parents. It is held in a church in front of the congregation that these young people worship with. In a ceremony, they promise to commit themselves to being faithful to their future spouse before they ever meet them. They commit to being pure on their wedding night. The parents put a wedding ring on their child’s finger. Their spouse gets to eventually take off that wedding ring at the real wedding ceremony.
The ring is a symbol and a reminder of their commitment. Explaining the ring gives young people an opportunity to explain their convictions to anyone they date. Boundaries are set right away. Kelley has worn her ring since she was fourteen years old.
The originator of the “True Love Waits” program works at this seminary. The young people met with him and heard him talk. This reinforced their values. No one questioned this value and all seemed committed to it.
Many of them talked about their “call” from God.
Jody is twenty-four. His father and grandfather are in the ministry. He said that God kept gently talking to him. He went to college and got a marketing degree. He worked in the field for a couple of years. God kept calling him. He finally surrendered. This is the first time he has left home. His loving parents were with him for the orientation. He plans to be a minister and preach.
Donald is twenty-four. He felt the call of God as a teenager. He believes he is called to pastor a church. Before entering seminary, he got an MBA because he believes it will help him with running a church. When I asked what size church he wanted to pastor, he said that is up to God. He said his MBA will also help if God sends him to a church that cannot afford much of a salary.
Melissa is twenty-two. She just graduated from college. She plans to be a missionary. She speaks Spanish. She felt the call the first time at age thirteen and tried to ignore it. She surrendered to God while in college. She says there is a big difference between hearing the call of God and surrendering to the call of God.
Kevin is twenty-two. He accepted Christ at age 15 and immediately felt the call of God into the ministry. He believes God is calling him to work with youth.
Mirenda says God is calling her into marriage and family counseling. Christie is being called to be a missionary overseas with children. Kelley is called to be a children’s minister in a church. How carefully God is planning his work.
Many of the students at seminary have brought their spouses and their children. They felt the call of God, stepped out on faith, and left their jobs. I asked one of these students where a dry cleaner was. She laughed and said she had no idea. She had not been able to afford a dry cleaner since they came to seminary.
Part of the orientation was a worship celebration. How inspiring it was to be able to sing and praise God with these sweet servants of God and their families.
As I looked around the room filled with people singing to the God that they know and love, I realized I was looking into the faces of the future leaders of ministry. They were so sincere as they raised their hands and voices in praise and prayer.
A praise band made up of seminary students led our singing. The lead singer had composed the praise choruses that we were singing. I smiled as I realized I was listening the future music and worship style of our churches.
I wondered if their innocence was going to get in the way of their dealing with the difficult life situations of the people they are sent to help. God reminded me that he would supply the wisdom if they only would remember to ask.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
(from New International Version)
I wondered how many of them would finish school and fulfill their call. I prayed for their perseverance. They were going to need it to follow their call.
James 1:4
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(from New International Version)
I wondered which of these called servants would be among the many church leaders that make grave and very public mistakes. I recently heard a speaker say that most church leaders that make these mistakes are “fallen” as opposed to “fraudulent.” This speaker said that when people go into the ministry, most of them are sincere. Temptation comes along and they fall. I looked around at these faces and I agreed with this speaker. Those young people are so sincere.
I was reminded that our God is a God of grace. If they fell, they could be forgiven. If God could forgive them, we could as well. I prayed for their protection from temptation.
Luke 11:4
"Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."
(from New International Version)
God calls us all to do His work. Like these new seminarians, some are called to full time Christian service in religious institutions. Most of us are called to serve God through our jobs, families, churches, and recreation. Regardless of our calling, it is our responsibility to hear it and to follow the call.
The speaker for the worship service was the President of the seminary. While he was speaking to students, his words are to anyone called by God. He gave five tips on how to fulfill the call of God.
1. The call that brought you here is all that is going to sustain you. Many things will try to prevent us from our call. Turn to God at all times. Satan will use discouragement and despair to try to keep us from fulfilling our call. Do not let him. Grace and peace can be ours in abundance.
1 Peter 1:1-5
To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
(from New International Version)
2. Practice a joyful lifestyle no matter what. We can get so caught up in the day-to-day chores. We face so many trials. Following God is hard on families. Often there are financial worries. We get tired. It is hard to balance so many things. This speaker encouraged us to remember to take time to laugh. He joked that life was never going to get any simpler than it is right now so we might as well learn to be joyful.
1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
(from New International Version)
3. Deepen our love relationship with God. He reminded us that we trusted God with our eternity so we could probably trust Him with our days. He warned us about the importance of keeping our focus on God. He talked about being sober in spirit and keeping a balanced spiritual life. He talked about how important a morning quiet time with God is. He said that study of the Bible to prepare for a test does not replace a quiet worship time with God.
1 Peter 1:7-9
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
(from New International Version)
4. Be Holy. We are called by God to holiness, no matter what. We cannot give in to temptation.
1 Peter 1:13-16
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
(from New International Version)
5. Fervently love one another. He reminded the people called to pastor a church that they could pastor a church if they got a C in Greek but many churches would not hire them if they got a divorce. He warned everyone never to neglect their family. He suggested that we develop the spiritual gift of “hanging out.” By hanging out in coffee shops, libraries, and bookstores, we can meet people to love.
1 Peter 1:22-24
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
(from New International Version)
Please take a moment and pray for these special people that have committed their lives to full time Christian service. Pray for their perseverance, wisdom, and holiness. Pray that they will constantly grow closer to God. Pray that they will be able to balance all of this new responsibility.
Do you know what God has called you to do? If not, ask Him. Listen to Him. Clear the way so you can follow the call of God.
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